New Online Initiative Launched to Help Overturn Prop. 8 and Send a Message to Mormon Church Leaders Who Supported It

Posted on November 6, 2008
Filed Under Uncategorized

www.InvalidateProp8.org Will Accept Donations to Invalidate Proposition 8 in the Name of Mormon Church President Thomas Monson

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — At a 2 p.m. news conference today in front of the Los Angeles Mormon Temple, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center CEO Lorri L. Jean announced the launch of www.InvalidateProp8.org, a website where people can support efforts to invalidate the initiative that attempts to revise the constitution to repeal marriage rights for same-sex couples. At the same time, donors will send a message to the Mormon Church, which played a leading role in funding the deceptive Yes on 8 campaign.

At the urging of church President Thomas Monson, Mormons contributed more than $15 million to fund the deceitful advertising campaign that resulted in a small majority of Californians supporting Prop 8. For each donation of $5 or more at www.InvalidateProp8.org, the Center will send Monson a postcard to let him know a donation was made in his name to fund legal organizations fighting Prop 8 and to fund grass-roots efforts supporting marriage equality.

“No one’s religious beliefs should be used to deny fundamental rights to others. Our civil rights are inalienable,” said Jean. “It is a travesty that the Mormon Church bought this election and used a campaign of lies and deception to manipulate voters in the great state of California. Today we will send a message to President Monson that we will not tolerate being stripped of our equal rights in the name of religious bigotry. They’re entitled to their beliefs, but not to impose them upon the constitution or laws of California. Let’s flood the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City with postcards!”

Each time someone makes a donation at www.InvalidateProp8.org, Monson will receive a postcard with the following text:

Dear President Monson:

A donation has been made in your name by _______________ to “invalidateprop8.org” to overturn California’s Proposition 8 and restore fundamental civil rights to all citizens of California. The money will be donated to legal organizations fighting the case and to support grass-roots activities in support of full marriage equality. Although

we decry the reprehensible role the Church of Latter Day Saints leadership played in denying all Californians equal rights under the law, we are pleased a donation has been made on your behalf in the effort to overturn the discrimination your church members helped enshrine in the California Constitution. Given that throughout its history the Mormon Church has been subjected to bigotry, we hope you appreciate the donation in your name to fight religious bigotry here in California.